The Meaning of Marriage | Pastor Chris Searcy | 2.2.25

The Meaning of Marriage

I. The Context of Ephesians: Unity in Christ Leads to Unity in Marriage

• Paul’s overarching theme in Ephesians: Unity in Christ

• Ephesians 1:9-10 – God’s plan to unite all things in Christ

• Ephesians 2:19-22 – The church is built together as God’s household

• Ephesians 4:3-6 – Unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace

• Ephesians 5:21-33: Unity in marriage reflects the unity of the church

• → Paul transitions from unity in theology (chapters 1-3) 
→ unity in the body (chapter 4) 
→ unity in the home (chapter 5)


The home is the foundation of Christian community:
Not the belief system - “Christ is the foundation of the faith” 

In Deuteronomy: Moses recounting Isreal’s journey from mount Sinai to the promised land urges Isreal to obey God’s commands…..

He shares with them the greatest commandment…. called the Shema!

Deuteronomy 6:4-10
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 10 “And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, 12 then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13 It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 



Two questions to ask ourselves:

1. Have we taught this to our children!
2. Have we ourselves forgotten!

God designed it so that:

• A Godly marriage builds a Christian home!

• Christian homes build strong churches!

• Strong churches build a Christian society!

II. The Gravity of Marriage:

A. It’s Gods design

• Genesis 1
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. 
27 So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

• Genesis 2
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 

21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
    because she was taken out of Man.”

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Marriage is Gods design! It is his creation!
You can’t change what is his…

B. Marriage Reflects Christ and the Church

• Old Testament:
Isaiah 54:5 
5 "For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called."

• New Testament:
Ephesians 5:31-32 (quotes Genesis 2:24)
31 "‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”

• Yet to be fulfilled:
Revelation 19:7-9
7 "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

The Bible consistently describes marriage as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with the Church—a union of love, sacrifice, and covenant faithfulness

III. The Seriousness of Marriage in God’s Eyes

A. Marriage is a Covenant, Not Just a Contract

• In Genesis 2 Marriage was the first institution established by God.


• Hebrews 13:4 – "Let marriage be held in honor among all

• Malachi 2:16 – “For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.”

If God hates Divorce how do you think the devil feels about divorce….?

• 1 Peter 3:7 – Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

B. God Tied it to Blessings and Responsibilities

• Proverbs 18:22 – "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord."

• 1 Peter 3:7 – Husbands must honor their wives or their prayers will be hindered.

• 1 Timothy 3:2, 4-5 – A qualification for church leadership:

• "Husband of one wife… manages his own household well."

IV. What Does Marriage Mean to God?

• It is Holy – Hebrews 13:4 – "Let marriage be held in honor among all…"

• It is for His Glory – Malachi 2:15 – 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God[g] seeking? Godly offspring.

• It is a Reflection of His Faithfulness – Hosea 2:19-20 – 19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.

• It is a Picture of Redemption – Isaiah 54:5 – "Your Maker is your husband…”

• Ephesians 5:27 – 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.


Closing Challenge:

• If marriage represents Christ and the church, are we living that out?

• Understand the seriousness of marriage.

• Fight for Godly marriages in our midst.


Final Call to Prayer & Reflection